Outlander: Dining with the Enemy

Last time on “Outlander:” Jamie found his days jam-packed as he tried to juggle ruining Prince Charles’ cause from the inside and being a prominent Parisian businessman. Claire, though, found herself growing bored of gossiping at Louise’s—even as she discovered that Mary Hawkins was Frank’s ancestor.

However, Claire found a purpose when Master Raymond told her about a hospital in need of help. Murtagh escorted her down there and though Mother Hildegard is a bit suspicious at first, Claire soon won her over. Jamie, though, was less than thrilled about his wife spending all hours at the hospital—especially when he needed her. The meeting between the Minister of Finance and Prince Charles didn’t go as he thought and Jamie learned that Charles had secured a good amount of funding for his cause. He stormed out of the house and went to the brothel.

There, he found a young boy stealing from the patrons. Jamie chased him down and offered him a job. The boy, now named Fergus, agreed and went home with the Frasers. Jamie explained to Claire that Fergus could steal letters from Charles’ supporters so they could learn who the prince’s funders were. She admitted it was a good idea.

One of the letters Fergus took led Jamie to seek the help of Mother Hildegard, a trained musician. He and Claire were then able to discern that the Duke of Sandringham was Prince Charles’ benefactor. And so they plotted to have a dinner, hoping to dissuade the duke and anyone else from supporting the Jacobite cause.

Let’s see how that dinner goes, hmm?

I still really like the credits. Will the French chorus be dropped, though, once they go back to Scotland? Hmm…

We open in Versailles, where Jamie is playing a chess game with Duveney. Claire watches her husband and the Minister asks if they’ve thought of any names. She admits that she was hoping to name the baby after her uncle, Lambert. Jamie shoots it down as too English. He suggests a name that has Claire crinkling her noise in disgust.

(The Frasers...debating baby names)

St. Germaine comes up and makes a lot of snide comments. He then notes that Jamie can’t win though Duveney tries to continue. Jamie sacrifices his queen and gives the game to the minister. They try to play it off as Claire being a distraction and she leaves as they start up another game.

Claire accepts wine and after taking a few sips, she lets out a cry of pain. She struggles to catch her breath as she clutches her stomach. St. Germaine watches, pleased, as Jamie swoops in and picks up his wife. He carries her out as everyone talks.

(How romantic...if, you know, Claire wasn't in pain)

At their home, Claire rests in bed as Jamie frets over her. She thinks she knows what was in the wine and suspects St. Germaine had a servant put it in her drink. Jamie wants to accuse him publically but Claire reminds them that they have no proof. Besides, it wouldn’t help their cause for Jamie to make a spectacle of himself. He agrees and tells her to rest so they could focus on their dinner.

(They are talking!)

Claire finally confesses that Randall is alive. That she met his brother at Versailles. Jamie is ecstatic at the news and goes off, leaving a confused Claire in his wake.

The next day, Murtagh escorts Claire to Master Raymond’s apothecary. She demands to know if he sold the herb to St. Germaine. Master Raymond admits to selling it but to an unknown servant girl. He swears he didn’t know who she worked for and that it would be used on Claire. She accepts it and asks Master Raymond for other help. He gives his serving girl a look and she shakes her head. Master Raymond leads Claire to a secret room in his shop.

He explains that someone is watching him and he can’t be too careful. So he leads her through a room full of strange items, including a dinosaur skull. Claire knows what it is and shares a laugh with Master Raymond. She then asks about someone’s future, someone she cares about—Frank. Master Raymond gives her something to help her discern and it seems to show that Frank’s future is good. Master Raymond then gives her a necklace that will help her detect poison and sends her on her way.

(Is his name Rex?)

From Master Raymond’s, Claire goes to Louise’s. She sends Mary away, telling her to go feed the monkey. But she warns her to be careful as it bites. Mary nods and walks off with the monkey.

Once Mary is gone, Louise asks Claire to sit with her. She confesses that she is with child and that it’s not her husband. Louise can’t leave him and go with her lover, who she calls a dreamer. So she has no choice but to get rid of it and asks Claire to help her with that.

Claire is hesitant but she does suggest a concoction. She warns Louise though that it could kill her as well. Louise asks if she has any other option. Claire suggests tricking her husband into believing it is his. She agrees to give it a try and thanks Claire.

(Friendship)

That night, Jamie wakes her up and is in the mood for some sexytimes. Claire is happy for this development…until she spies a bite mark on his inner thigh. She pushes him away and demands to know how he got it. He says she no doubt doesn’t know what soixante-neuf is and Claire assures him she knows what “69” is. She wants to know why he was engaging in it and Jamie insists the woman was coming on to him. But she doubts that he was fighting to protect his virtue.

(Claire's not buying any of this)

Jamie gets mad and reveals that he can’t perform since Wentworth Prison and he can’t stand it. So he had a little help in getting ready for Claire. She’s not too pleased and wants him to talk to her. To share his pain with her, his wife.

He finally opens up to her and they finally have some proper sexytimes. It’s good to see Jamie and Claire back together again. Their post-coital time, though, is interrupted when they hear someone on the roof. Jamie grabs a weapon and tells Claire to stay put. He ambushes the intruder and struggles with him as Murtagh runs out to help. They stop, though, when they discover it’s none other than Bonnie Prince Charles!

(Together again)

Claire patches the would-be king up and he wails about how his lover. He had to flee her house when her husband came home. Since he knew Jamie lived nearby, he made for the Fraser residence. When Claire notices a strange wound, he confesses that in the process, he was bitten by her monkey who only likes her. That strikes Claire but she stays quiet.

(Drunk Prince Charlie)

Once Bonnie Prince Charlie is gone, she tells Jamie that his lover is none other than Louise de Rohan. She also reveals that Louise is pregnant, the child is Charles’ but she’s going to pass it off as her husband’s. Jamie gets a wicked idea that Claire feels guilty agreeing to—they invite Louise and her husband to the dinner, reveal her pregnancy and watch the sparks fly. No one will want to support Charlie once he attacks a member of the French aristocracy.

(Frasers with a plan)

Their plan set, the day of the dinner dawns. Jamie oversees all the food being brought into his house as Claire hurries out with her cloak. She apologizes, saying there was an explosion and Mother Hildegarde needs help. She’s taking Mary with her as well. Jamie insists that Murtagh and Fergus accompany her. She promises to be back in time for the dinner and kisses him goodbye.

Murtagh and Fergus wait outside. Mary comes out and tells them that things are crazy inside, so it will be another hour. Murtagh argues that they need to get back but she assures him that they will make it in time. She heads back inside. Fergus then says that Mary is in love. He says she’s happier and her stutter has disappeared. Murtagh asks if Suzette is in love with anyone and Fergus replies that she loves who ever walks past her door. He shoves the boy.

(Fergus is enjoying this)

Inside, Claire holds a man with a severe leg injury still as a doctor places a nail into his leg. The man calms down and Mother Hildegarde explains that there is a nerve there that when hit just right can numb the lower extremity. She notes the doctor is the king’s executioner and then tells Claire to prepare to treat the man. Claire sends Mary to do a few tasks before turning back to her patient.

(Claire at work)

At last they finish, but the carriage has a broken wheel. Murtagh has sent Fergus on ahead to let Jamie know they will be delayed but warns it will take time to fix the wheel. Claire decides to walk home, deeming it will be fast. She and Mary head off toward the Fraser household as Murtagh follows.

Jamie waits for his wife at home as his guests start to arrive. He greets them, coming face to face with Sandringham and Alex Randall. But it gets worse when Sandringham reveals he also invited the Comte St. Germaine. Jamie is courteous but he and the Comte share glares. Bonnie Prince Charlie comes in, thanking Jamie for hosting this dinner. He thinks it will be great for their cause.

If he only knew.

(Poor soul)

Meanwhile, it has gotten dark out as Claire and Mary hurry through empty streets. Masked men knock Murtagh out and set upon the women. Claire puts up a fight as a few grab Mary, raping her on a wagon as Claire screams for them to leave her alone. When they discover she’s pregnant, one of them calls her “La Dame Blanche” and they all run off. Murtagh regains consciousness, apologizing. Claire covers herself and tells him to tend to Mary.

(Dark alleys aren't safe no matter the century)

Louise de Rohan and her husband enter. Jamie pretends to introduce her to Bonnie Prince Charlie. Charles tells Louise’s husband that he brought a great jewel and then kisses her hand for a long time. Like, it got awkward long. She pulls her hand and tries to be as flighty as ever. Jamie can tell his plan is already working as Fergus runs up, telling him about Claire’s delay.

(L'awkward)

He then learns everyone is back and he excuses himself. Out in the courtyard, he learns of the attack and is ready to kill St. Germaine. But once again, Claire has no proof and says they can’t ruin their dinner. She needs someone to stay with Mary, who she’s drugged to stay calm after her ordeal. Alex Randall volunteers and Claire gives him some instructions, warning him that she might start hallucinating.

(Ahh, young love)

Claire rushes around her room, getting ready. Jamie wants her to sit it out, saying he can make excuses for her. But she says it’s too important for her to miss it. So she’s going. They head down and Claire welcomes everyone, insisting that they start eating.

(There is nothing suspicious going on upstairs at all. NOTHING!)

Louise takes Claire’s arms and tells her that she managed to convince her husband the baby is his. She says she claimed he got drunk one night and it happened. He’s now ecstatic about having an heir. She thanks Claire and is overjoyed herself. Claire starts to look a bit guilty about what she and Jamie are going to do.

Everyone takes their seats as this dinner really begins.

The Comte notices Claire’s necklace and makes a comment about how it’s used to test for poison. He wonders if they should all be worried. Claire glares at him and says that maybe he should be. He knows she knows and they just have a staring contest.

(Who will blink first?)

Someone makes mention of Claire’s pregnancy and Jamie seizes his chance. He congratulates Louise and her husband on their pregnancy as well. Louise is a bit flustered but she recovers, making the official announcement. Jamie apologizes, pretending he thought it was public knowledge and is forgiven. Prince Charles, though, is really sucking down his wine and toasts them, glaring at his lover as he puts two and two together. He then resumes getting very, very drunk. Jamie is pleased, hoping his plan works as Sandringham continues to dominate the conversation.

(Chug! Chug! Chug!)

Meanwhile, Alex tends to Mary. She grows more delirious and he tries to calm her, deciding to get her more medicine. Mary escapes though and he gives chase.

As it looks like Prince Charles is going to blow his own campaign apart, Mary comes screaming into the next room with Alex behind her. He doesn’t seem to understand that trying to restrain her would not be the best idea and when the others rush in to see what was going on, the scene before them is not good for Alex.

(Strangest game of tag ever)

Mary’s uncle and her betrothed step forward, brandishing their swords to “save” her from Alex. He tries to explain that he’s not hurting her and that she’s delirious, but they aren’t listening. So Jamie and Murtagh step in to help Alex. St. Germaine convinces Sandringham and the prince to leave and they slip out as the fight continues. Claire worries about what this means for their cause as the episode ends.

(She's watching her plans go up in smoke)

Oh, poor Mary. I was kinda dreading this episode for that reason. She was so sweet and loveable that I couldn’t bear to watch that happen to her.

I’ll admit I wasn’t a big fan of the “La Dame Blanche” subplot in the books so I’m not thrilled to see it here. But I knew they had to include it. So I’ll grit my teeth and tolerate it.

Next time: Guess who’s back? 

Screen caps from here.